Busy caree with her carer talking to a volunteer
Draft synopsis of press release here hidden page
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Not for use at the Gazette until CC approved. Meanwhile it serves as text for hard-copy use on two sheets of A4. for the Elders to peruse. At the appropriate time, it will be edited to form part of the press release - PR- to Ross Gazette. It will be headed " A Dementia Meeting Centre for Ross - Stage 1".
Two-page hard-copy version for Elders
The proposed Ross Dementia Meeting Centre
this small text is not on the A4 version - as you read the refs - PR something, click to see source here.
Introduction
There is an international project (Meetingdem) to increase the number of Dementia Meeting Centres (DMCs) based on 125 of them within Holland, introduced over the last twenty years. This page results from the author's strong belief in the continuity of the too-few UK DMCs started since 2015, and the creation of more.
Worcester University has taken on the introduction of DMCs in the UK. The international project has a set procedure of meetings and the way the DMCs are operated. Setting up a DMC can take over a year. Two have started and those underway hardly bring the total to half a dozen. The author sees a way of increasing the number by one, and reducing the time for it to be up and running within two months of first discussion with Reverend Deborah Cornish of Christ Church in Ross.
The Ross DMC project has begun on the authority of Dr Simon Lennane at Alton Street Surgery who is the Mental Health lead on the Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group. This is not a formal application - yet- to Christchurch to host the Ross DMC. It is an exploratory document. Ideally, there will be a six week pilot stage on one day per week from 1100 to 1500 from 2 November. It will be run by volunteers. Initial costs will be met by the author.
We proceed to the detail:
To facilitate reading this page, the items have a number gap. On the A4 version, they do not have a number gap. They are in large text here.
- 1 The huge difference between a daycare centre and a DMC is that carers participate in the wider aspects of the care process which is person-centred. PR A5 and 1 here A significant proportion of people with dementia who attend DMCs regularly, experience delayed entry into residential care. PR A5
- 2 Participation in the DMC care provision and process, then, is the key characteristic of the DMC. Carers enjoy sharing the caring when, normally, it is a one-to-one activity. They enjoy the interaction within the normal activities, and occasional carer-group cohesion in the backroom together while their carees are busy and being looked after elsewhere. PR C1 Their morale is heightened by participating with their peers, and the DMC staff, in the care given to their loved-ones, and others, with dementia. 2 here and to add to PR Participation in the care activities results in greater understanding of the wider benefits to oneself as a carer, and those with dementia. PR A 23
- 3 A diagnosis of dementia can be frightening for those affected by the syndrome, their carers and other family members. Learning more? about dementia can help. Ross DMC carers can opt to participate in discussion based on sharing their problems and helping each other. PR C11 This sounds like they learn from each other and they do. According to interest and need, dementia experts join the discussion.
- 4 Person-centred care, essentially, is treating the person with dignity and respect: understanding their history, lifestyle, culture and preferences: and looking at situations from the point of view of the person and not a set of symptoms. PR A17
- 5 Reminiscence therapy is well-used within DMCs and participants enjoy including their photos and memorabilia in the reminiscence sessions. Making the most of long-term memory contributes to overall wellbeing. Sharing memories is a major part of that. PR C17
- 6 Volunteers are needed to participate in the DMC care process. They will learn the broad principles within and ethos of an international project to increase the numbers of DMCs. A UK university is looking after the research aspects. Results will be published around March next year. A major charity has provided most of the UK money so far. The future of existing and a few in-pipeline DMCs can depend on those results. Ross DMC is free from such worrying constraints at the start and hopes to find independent funding for its launch and while further funding is sought. PR C7
- 7 Volunteers are a key part of the care provision and the supporting admin. The Ross DMC begins on a self-funding-project basis. Volunteers are not asked to donate anything but their time. PR C3 The Ross DMC project philosophy is run in pilot format for a few weeks and then show "the right people" who will look after the project via a formal process. PR C5
Readers with Internet facility are welcome to further information at link to this page
Contact - Alan F Harrison (Prof ret'd) 01989 567001 07952 060 505 prof.alanfharrison@talktalk.net
Conclusion not part of PR
The formal project demands a vast amount of reading and it is generous with meetings. Distilling it to this amount of text has been a challenge By the time the six week pilot* finishes, Elders will have enough information about the meetings and procedures in order to decide whether to join it. If not, any Advisory Board or Steering Group which might arise can select components it feels it wants to use.
* on the basis of optimism